Internationally known as “the best mariachi in the world,” this mariachi group was originally founded by Don Gaspar Vargas, Manuel Mendoza and two violinists in the town of Tecalitlan, Mexico in 1898. The group has since starred in more than 200 movies, recorded dozens of albums of pasodobles, valses, bailables, polkas, and danzones, as well as collaborated with various artists including Juan Gabriel and Linda Ronstadt.

In 2010, the Houston Grand Opera turned to the ensemble’s legendary leader, Jose “Pepe” Martinez, to write the score and collaborate with librettist Leonard Foglia in creating the world’s first mariachi opera, Cruzar la Cara de la Luna (To Cross the Face of the Moon), which premiered to sold-out houses in Paris, Houston, Chicago and San Diego. In 2015, the new Mariachi Opera with the same creative team premiered, El Pasado Nunca Termina, which was equally successful.

Currently, Mariachi Vargas De Tecalitlan continues to record and tour internationally.